Members of the Russian Presidential Council for Human rights said that it would be justified if the US whistleblower Edward Snowden received political asylum in a country of his choice, including Russia.

The head of Russia’s top official Human Rights Body, Mikhail
Fedotov, told reporters on Wednesday that it would be just if
some country grants Snowden political asylum. He added that the
reports that the Venezuelan government was ready to look into
such request were “raising good hope” and that it was his
personal impression that the whistleblower “would get
political asylum where he wants”.

“He must be granted protection regardless of national borders.
And this does not apply only to Mr Snowden’s story – this applies
to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and many other people,
including journalists – Russian and foreign – who disclose
secrets in order to warn the society against dangers,” the
Interfax news agency quoted Fedotov as saying.

“Because of such people we become stronger and the special and
diplomatic services must become smarter and understand what can
be done in the modern transparent world and what cannot”
Fedotov added.

Another member of the Human Rights Council, Kirill Kabanov, said
Edward Snowden should not be handed over to the United States as
this would violate his personal rights.

“It goes without saying that Snowden acted as a Human Rights
advocate but right now the US authorities are very resolute in
their intention to punish him. My opinion is that we should take
a very precise position – no handover,” Kabanov told the
ITAR-TASS news agency.

The initiative was supported by yet another member of the HR
body, the head of the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights Aleksandr
Brod. The activist said that the threat to Snowden’s
life really existed and thus, Russian authorities
must openly state their position.

“The man was defending the principles on which the United
States had been based for a long time but
which the current US authorities are ignoring. He is facing a
life sentence or execution by a firing squad. We must help him in
this very difficult situation,” stated Veronika
Krasheninnikova, the head of the major Russian political think
tank Institute of Foreign Policy Research and Initiatives.

These views are shared by the head of the Lower House committee
for Foreign affairs Aleksey Pushkov who called Snowden, Assange
and Bradley Manning “new dissidents” in his Wednesday
Twitter post.

“Assange Manning and Snowden were not spies, they did not
disclose classified information for money, but did so because of
their beliefs. They are new dissidents, fighters against the
system,” Pushkov wrote.

Also on Wednesday the Russian Upper House set up a commission
that would look into Snowden’s reports and connected data to
investigate possible violations of Russian citizens’ rights by US
special services. Senator Ruslan Gattarov who presented the group
noted in his speech that the Russian authorities had sent an
official letter to the US demanding explanations, but it was
simply ignored.

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden caused a major international
scandal after he disclosed his agency’s eavesdropping on
thousands of ordinary unsuspecting citizens in the USA and in
other countries. Snowden spent some time in Hong Kong, reportedly
arrived to Moscow on Sunday and is still staying in an airport
transit zone. It was expected that the whistleblower would fly to
Ecuador that could grant him asylum but so far it apparently has
not happened.

“We can only extradite foreign citizens to such countries with
which we have signed the appropriate international agreements on
criminal extradition,” Putin said, adding that as Snowden had
committed no crime on Russian soil, he is free to travel at will.

"Snowden is a free person. The sooner he chooses his final
destination, the better it is for him and Russia," Putin
said.